Variable-speed turbine.



H. F. SCHMIDT.

VARIABLILSPEED TURBINE.

APPLIOATION FILED mm. 4, 1911.

1,1 02,357, Patented July 7,19%

INVENTOR.

JLWUM B Y Mn Wk HIS ATTORNEY IN FACT.

H. F. SCHMIDT.

VARIABLE SPEED TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED-DBO 4 1911 1,1 02,357, Patented July 7,1914.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2 A? IN VEN TOR.

K L HIS ATTORNEY IN FACT SCHMIDT.

Patented July 7, 1914 3 SHEETSWSHEET 3.

R T o c m m .u E L V g WW W Y Q M A ,W m L H A Y 5 1 3 22: B

VARIABLE SPEED TURBINE.

AFPLLGATION rum) DIJU. 4, 1911 UNITED STATES OFFICE.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT, OF WILKINSEURG', PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

VARIABLE-SPEED TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Tatented July '7, 1914.

Application filed December 4, 1911. Serial No. 663.916.

To all whom it may aoncern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. SoHMID'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvan a, have made a new and useful Invention in Vanable-Speed Turbines, of which the following is a s eeification.

This invention relates to steam or other elastic fluid turbines and more particularly to marine type turbines capable of eff ciently developing different powers at different speeds.

ln present marine turbine arrangements, in order to obtain satisfactory economies at the ditlerent ship speeds, it has been necessary to employ either a number of t irbn. s in their separate casings for the di. .reit speeds, or to increase the normal size of the turbines employed to accommodate extra stages utilized in obtaining the economies at the different speeds. My invention, however, renders it possible to take a turbine designed for certain blade speeds and without increasing its size or materially increasing its weight, to convert the same into a number of turbines within the same easing designed for difierent definite speeds and powers. I

An object of this invention 18 to prodpce a compact organized apparatus embodying a number of independently operating tur blues of different normal s imeds and powers and having a oonnuon rotor element earrying the moving blades for the dltlerent independently operating tugrbmes. This; as well as many other objects which w1ll readily appear to those skilled in 'this partieular art, I attain in the apparatus which I have selected as one which fairly illustrates one embodiment of this invention. This selection has been made with no idea of limiting this invention to the particular apparatus illustrated, but merely for the sake of clearly illustrating the principle thereof and one mode of application.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application and throughout which similar elements are denoted by like characters, Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an organized apparatus embodying this invention taken on such a line as to show the nozzles and intermediate vanes of what may be termed the low-speed turbine; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation of the same apparatus taken on such a, line as to show the nozzles and vanes of what may be termed the highspeed turbine; Fig. 3 is a developed section of the nozzles, blades and intermediate vanes of said low-speed turbine; Fig. 4 is a developed section of the nozzles and blades for said high-speed turbine; Fig. 5 is a detail view of a. nozzle block provided with two sets of independent nozzles, one set For each of said turbines; Figs. 6, 7 and S are Fragmentary views in sectional elexation rllOW- ing a modified form of rotor, carrying blades for three independently o imrating turbines and the nozzle and intermediate guide vanes utilized in connection there with; and Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are developed se tions of the nozzles, blades and irate-row diate guide vanes shown in Figs. (3, T and a respect ivel In thr ..;:paratns chosen for illustration in Fig: i inclusive, two independently operating turbines are organized into a single apparatus having two normal speeds, which, for convenience, may be ternud full speed and cruising speed. The apparatus consists of a easing divided into a lower halt 12 and an upper hall 13 so formed that the casing is divided on a plane passing through its horizontal avis and shaft H journaled in .bea'rings to and to a ses through the casing and is provided with rotor elements or running wheel [7 and t8 and a drum 19. The casing is divided longitudinallv by means of a diaphragm partition 20 which extends inwardly to a drum member 21 also carried on the rotor shaft, and between said drum and the diaphragm a labyrinth parking 22 of the usual type is interposed. The two independently oper" ating turbines, that is, the full-speed tur bine and the eruising-spcml turbine, have a high pressure stage an intermediate stage and a. common low-pressure stage. although it will be seen that if desired the low-pressure stages of the two turbines may also be indepeiulent. Running wheel 17 earrics the high-pressure stage binding: for the two tur blues, while running wheel 18 carries the intermediate stage binding for the two turbines; drum 19 carries tlu moving, blades for the low-pressuro slagreuhit h in the up paratus shown is common to the two turbines. The higlrprcssure stage of the fullspeed turbine consists of nozzles supplied with steam through inlet pipe ill and a single row of impulse blades25,while the highprcssurc stage of the cruisingspeed turbine consists of nozzles 22' supplied with steam thr ugh inlet pipe QR, two rows of blades 25) and intermediate guide vanes ill). The high-pressure stage ol the l'ullspccd turbine may be termed a llatteau stage since in its nozzles a. portion of th thermal cnorgy of the steam is contorted into ltlllCllC energy in the form of steam velocity and the energy due to said vehz-ity is abstracted in a single row of moving blades. The highpressure quire of the cruising-lurbine may he termed a (urtis stage since in its nozzles a portion of the thermal energy of the steam is converted into kinetic energy in the form of steam velocity and the energy due to said velocity is fractionally abstracted in the two rows of moving blades; the intermediate guide vanes serving merely as di recting vanes. The blades on running wheel 17 nearest the nozzles are of doulile dccl; construction, that is, the blades are superposed on the first row of blades Running Wheel 18 carries the moving blades for the internu-diate stages of the two turblues and since these blades are the same as the blades for the high-pres ure stages, except of largrr dimensions, to accommodate the expandrd steam, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. The moving blades for the flllhHpEtltl turbine are numbered 25 while their nozzles are numberet 25;". The two rows of moving blades for the cruising turbine are numbered 29 while their nozzles are numbered 2i and its intermediate guide vanes are numbered 30 A steam passage for each group of nozzles ol' the intermediate stages leads around the diaphragm partition :20. Pas sage Ill lead; exhaust steam from the high pressure stage of the full-speed turbine around diaphragm partition Qt)- to the inlets of nozzles 213" for the intermediate stage of the full-sneer] turbine, and, a. valve 32 controls the 0] 'rrtivc area of said passage 31. Valve 32 is connected to a. piston 33 which reciplocates within a chamber 34. and the lower face o l which by means of a pipe 35 is subjected to the PWSHIIP in inlet pipe 24. It will be seen that the arrangement just described is such that when steam is let into inlet pipe 24 by means of a valve 24 the pressure in said pipe 2t communicating through pipe 35 to the lower face of piston 83 will by means of said piston open valve 32 and place the high and intermediate stages of the lull-speed turbine in communication one with the other so that the steam exhausted from the high-pressure stage may pass through passage 31. to the iiiitermcdiate.

stage. A passage 36 is provided for conducting the steam exhausted from the hi hpressure stage of the cruising turbine to nozzles 27 of the intermediate stage of the cruising turbine. A valve 37 overns the effective area of passage 36 and 1s connected to a piston 38 which reci irocates within a chamber 39. The lower ace of piston 38 is subjected to the steam pressure in inlet; pipe 98 through a pipe 40 and this arrangement is such that when the cruising turbine is supplied With steam through valve 28, the high-pressure and intcrmediat stages of said turbine are placed in com munication through passage as so that the steam exhausted from the high-pressure stage is conducted to nozzles 27 of the in tcrmediatc stage.

As before stated, in the apparatus selected for illustration, the low-pressure stage or section employed is common to the' two-turbines, that is, to the full-speed turbine and the cruising speed turbine, and as shown consists of a number of annular rows of moving blades 43 carried on drum 19 and stationary vanes 44. carried on a ring memher 45 bolted to the interior of the casing at 46. This section may either be what is known as the Rattcau section in which all of the pressure drops occur between the blades of the stationary rows, or it may be what it known as Parsons or reaction section, in which the pressure drops occur be tween the blades in both the moving and stationary rows. The exhaust from the lowpressure stage issues into exhaust chamber 47 and thence out through exhaust 48 preferabl y to a condenser.

If it is desired to have three normal speeds, than three independent turbines may be organized into an apparatus as shown in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive. The first row of blades on each running Wheel, then, that is, the blades nearest the nozzles, will be tripledecl: blades, the outer blade being utilized for the full-speed turbine, the intermediate blade for the intermediate-speed turbine, and the inner blade for the cruising turbine. \Vhen three turbines are utilized, the second row of blades Will be double-deck blades and the third row single deck. When three turbines are organized into one apparatus, two rows of intermediate guide vanes will be necessary. The nozzles, blades and vanes illustrated in Figs. (3 to 11 may be the blades on either of the running Wheels, that is, either for the high-pressure stage or the intermediate stage, they only differing in size. When three turbines are utilized three passages for conducting the exhaust from the high-pressure stages to the intermediate stages will be necessary with their valves, Valve-pistons and pipe-connections. \Vhen the organized apparatus contains three independent turbines, that is, a fullspeed turbine, an intermediate speed turbine and a cruising-speed turbine, as illustrated in ,Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, the running wheels for the high-pressure stage and the intermediate stage will each carry three independently operating blading arrangements. The high and intermediate stages for the fullspeed turbine will each contain one annular row of moving blades 50 and nozzles 51 operating on what is termed the Ratteau principle. The intermediate-speed turbine employs two annular rows of moving blades 52, intermediate guide vanes 53 and nozzles 54 and operates on What is termed the Curtis principle in which the velocity energy of the steam due to the conversion in the nozzles of thermal into kinetic energy in the form of fluid velocity is abstracted in two steps. The cruising-speed turbine, which employs three rows of moving blades 55, two rows of guide vanes 56 and nozzles 57, will also operate as a Curtis turbine in which the velocity energy of the steam due to the conversion of thermal into kinetic energy in the form of steam velocity in the nozzles is abstracted in three steps.

If it is desired, the low pressure stage common to the different turbines may be substituted by one or more running wheels carrying blading arrangements similar to' those carried by running wheels 17 and 18, or similar to those shown in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, if three turbines are employed.

If it is desired, a number of stage valves corresponding to valves 32 and 37 may be utilized for each turbine and the piston cl'iambers of these valves may be interconnected so that if it is desired to divide up the nozzles for each turbine into groups, the valves may be operated serially to open first one group and then another. This arrangement will insure each group of nozzles working at its maximum efiicicncy, that is, one group will be fully supplied with steam be fore the next group begins to open. This is a detail, however, which does not enter into the principle of this invention and as the invention may be carried out in a number of dill'crent ways, I do not wish to limit it to an apparatus of any particular constriuation.

If the common low-pressure stage is replaced by independent low-pressure stages, then bypasses similar to by-passes 3t and 36 will lead around the diaphragm partition, which will be necessary, and between the intermediate stages and the low-pressure stages the valve pistons for operating the valves in these by-passes will have their lower faces subjected to the steam pressure in the nozzle chambers of the intermediate stages.

In accordance with the provisions-of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a. turbine, a plurality of independent concentric series of blades radially offset with relation to each other, the inner series of said blades being adapted to fractionally abstract kinetic energy from the motive fluid throughout a series of separate steps and the outer series being adapted to abstract kinetic energy from the motive fluid throughout a smaller number of series of steps than the inner series.

2. In combination with a turbine, a plurality of independent concentric series of blades radially offset with relation to each other, the inner series of said blades having a. greater number of annular rows than the outer series, and the number of rows in each seri' s progressively dccrea: ng outwardly.

3. In combination with a turbine, a plurality of concentric series of blades radially oilset with relation to each other, a separate nozzle for delivering motive (laid to each separate series of blades, and a. series of blades for receiving motive fluid from each of said first mentioned series of blades.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of November, 19L1.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

C. W'. ltIcGnen, Ana Rome.

- row of moving blades 50 and nozzles 51 oper- Correction in,Letters Patent No. 1,102,357.";

ating on What is termed the Ratteau prin ciple. The intermediate-speed turbine employs two annular rows of moving blades 52, intermediate guide vanes 53 and nozzles 54: and operates on What is termed the Curtis principle in which the velocity energy of the steam due to the conversion in the nozzles of thermal into kinetic energy in the form of fluid velocity is abstracted in two steps. The cruising-speed turbine, which employs three rows of moving blades 55, two rows of guide vanes 56 and nozzles 57, will alsooperate as a Curtis turbine in which the veloclty energy of the steam due to the conversion of thermal into kinetic energy in the form of steam velocity in the nozzles is abstracted in three steps.

If it is desired, the low pressure stage common to the different turbines may be substituted by one or more running wheels carrying blading arrangements similar to those carried by running wheels 17 and 18,

or similar to those shown in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, if three turbines are employed.

If it is desired, a number of stage valves corresponding to valves 32 and 37 may be utilized for each turbine and the piston chambers of these valves may be intercom nected so that if it is desired to divide up the nozzles for each turbine into groups, the

valves may be operated serially to open first a one group and then another.

This arrangement will insure each group of nozzles working at its maximum efficiency, that is, one group will be fully supplied with steam be fore the next'group begins to open. This is a detail, however, which does not enter into the principle of this invention andas the invention may be carried out 1n a number of difl'erent ways, I do not wish to limit it to an apparatus of any particular"construction.

If the common low-pressure stage is re- -placed by independent low-pressure stages,

then by-passes similar to by-passes 31 and In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a turbine, a plurality of independent concentric series of .blades radially offset with relation to each other, the inner series of said blades being adapted to fractionally abstract kinetic energy from the motive fluid throughout a series of separate steps and the outer series being adapted to abstract kinetic energy from the motive fluid throughout a smaller number of series of steps than the inner series.

2. In combination with a turbine, a pinrality of independent concentric series of blades radially offset with relation to each other, the inner series of said blades having a greater number of annular rows than the on ter series, and the number of rows in eachseri progressively decreaf ng outwardly.

3. In combination with a turbine, a plurality of concentric series of blades radially oliset with relation. toeach other, a separate nozzle for delivering motive fluid to each separate series of blades, and a series oi? .C. W. MCGHEE, ADA Rome.

it is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,102,357, granted July 7, 1914..

upon the application of Henry F. Schmidt, 0t Wilkinsburg,Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Variable-Speed Turbines, an error appears in the printed specifij cation requiring correction as follows: Page2, line 102, for the word than read -than, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Otfice.

fiigned and sealed this 11th day of August, A. 11, 1914.

J. T. nnwron,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Correction inletters PatentNo. 1,102,357.

It is herebj certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,102,357, granted July 7, 1914,

upon the ap'plicatiou of Henry F. Schmidt, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Variable-Speed Turbines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 102, for the word than read film; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of August, A. Dl, 1914.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

